Page 85 - CFJ_Jul26

COMPANY SHOWCASE SECTOR FOCUS FLOORING IN EDUCATION

33 Great Sutton St, Manufacturing Plant:
London EC1V 0DX Building G,
0207 664 8799 Blackaddie Road,
infouk@shawcontract.com Sanquhar, Scotland
shawcontract.com/en-gb DG4 6DB

Designing smarter education
spaces, from concept to completion

S education environments evolve, SHAW CFJ recently caught up with Ryan Moody, account
ACONTRACT is helping contractors unlock manager for the South West and South Wales,
opportunities through design, UK manufacturing and Michael Gillespie, account manager for the
and a flexible flooring portfolio built for modern Midlands, to explore Shaw Contract’s role in this
learning spaces. evolving sector — and how contractors can better
Education is no longer a one-size-fits-all position themselves to win work in education.
environment, and neither is the flooring that The conversation quickly turned to how different
supports it. As schools, colleges and universities parts of the education sector are evolving — and
move away from rigid layouts towards more how flooring specifications are shifting with them.
flexible, design-led spaces, the demands on Ryan pointed to clear changes in primary and
Michael Gillespie contractors and suppliers are shifting. secondary schools: ‘There’s definitely been a move
For Shaw Contract, that means offering more away from fibre-bonded, what used to be seen as
than just product — it’s about supporting projects the scratchy school carpet, towards tufted products,
from early concept design through to delivery, which have traditionally been viewed as more
backed by UK manufacturing that can meet tight premium. The price gap has narrowed, so more
summer deadlines. With budgets under pressure schools are going down that route now.’
but expectations rising, particularly in higher That shift, he explained, isn’t just about
education, flooring has a growing role to play perception, but about performance and design. ‘You
in shaping environments that attract students, can create something much more appealing visually,
enhance wellbeing and perform day in, day out. For but it’s also softer underfoot, which matters in
contractors, it also represents a clear opportunity primary environments. We’ve got strong colour
to tap into a sector that’s evolving fast — provided palettes too, from bright primary tones to more
Ryan Moody they understand what’s driving it. muted, calming shades, so you can design spaces 

www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk 85
@CFJMagazine CFJ July 2026